CII Organises Connect 2018 in Chennai

Dr F C Kohli, First CEO of TCS, receiving the Life Time Achievement Award from Mr Edappadi K Palaniswami, Hon'ble Chief Minister, of Tamil Nadu at the Valedictory Session of CII Connect 2018 held in Chennai on 10 October 2018.

“The Tamil Nadu State had already created a world class infrastructure to attract foreign investments of all kinds and the two-day Global Investors’ Meet to be held on January 23 and 24, 2019, in Chennai would go a long way in boosting the economy of the State”, said Mr Edappadi K Palaniswami, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, while addressing the Valedictory Session of CII Connect 2018 – Conference and Exposition on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) under the theme Accelerating Progress: Inclusive Digital Growth.

The Hon’ble Chief Minister said that “IT exports in 2017-18 stood over Rs.1 lakh crore and this would multiply to a great extent in 2018-19, thanks to the state’s transparent policy initiatives and larger interests in keeping all the stakeholders engaged”.

He also added, “Chennai has already emerged as the IT and human resource hub of the country and many industries have shown interest in establishing their businesses, all for providing jobs to thousands of people”.

On the occasion, the Hon’ble Chief Minister presented the CII Connect Awards 2018 to winners of different categories who have made outstanding contribution to the growth and development of ICT industry.

Dr F C Kohli, First Chief Executive Officer,Tata Consultancy Services received the ‘Life Time Achievement Award’ from the Chief Minister.

The Valedictory Session also witnessed the release of book on ‘e-Governance in Tamil Nadu’ and Chief Ministers awards for e-Governance for Students.

In his keynote address, Dr F C Kohli, First Chief Executive Officer, TCS, said “that the first computer was installed at The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in 1964 under the visionary leader Mr J R D Tata and after that things fell in place in the world of computers”.

He also said, “India has the talent potential and the best brains are heading several multinational computer companies across the globe”.

Dr Santhosh Babu IAS, Secretary-Information Technology, Government of Tamil Nadu, stressed on the need to involve all stakeholders in the IT sector as partners in progress”.

He said that the new technology is going to govern mankind what with the arrival of artificial intelligence, cloud computing and block chain all over the world.

Mr M C Sampath, Hon’ble Minister for Industries, Government of Tamil Nadu, said that Tamil Nadu had brought in the IT policy in 2002 itself. The industrial policy of the state carried all the ingredients to attract investors across the spectrum. He also said that the new ICT policy 2018 and the Business Facilitation Act 2018 would help improve the industrial climate in the state.

Dr M Manikandan, Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology, Government of Tamil Nadu, said “the state is well ahead of others in terms of digital technology penetration. He also indicated that the next Global Investors’ Meet in Chennai would attract an investment of Rs 15,000 crore for the ICT sector”.

Dr Sanjay Tyagi, Director, Software Technology Parks of India, Chennai, welcomed the approval accorded by the state government for the establishment of FINTech and TN BPO in Chennai.

Mr Krishnakumar Natarajan, Chairman, CII Connect 2018, wanted a collaborative eco-system developed to take ICT to the next level and the added that the proposed FINTech in Chennai would be in the right direction.

Mr Sanjay Jayavarthanavelu, Deputy Chairman, CII Southern Region, said the state’s new IT Policy 2018 has given special focus on startups and innovations of all kinds in the field of business. He also said the mass adoption of digital technology has become a key driver for the nation’s growth economically and otherwise.

Mr M Ponnuswami, Chairman, CII Tamil Nadu State Council, in his concluding remarks, lauded the state government for its proactive role in fostering business activity in the state.